Along with thousands of dogs in Nepal, our dogs are honoured today on the occasion of “Kukur Puja.”

Such a lovely festival.

I found a very informative blog about this festival, and the contrast between the Indian and Nepali way of celebrating Diwali is quite stark – though in India’s defence, the ban on firecrackers this year has (thus far) reduced the noise levels, and the pain and fear inflicted on animals, street dogs in particular.

Today began in the pre-dawn darkness, as I headed off through the streets of Delhi, to meet up with one of my running friends, Sunil Punshi, who was taking me to Yamuna Ghat.

I was last there in probably 2008 or 2009 (pre-Commonwealth Games, that’s for sure) and was keen to see the river again, and at dawn, inspired by the fabulous photos Sunil shares on his Instagram feed (if you don’t already follow him, you should!)

I am currently in a state of deep despair about my adoptive home, India, and more especially about Delhi, where we live.

There are so many things happening right now in this country and in this city, and none of them seems good, to be honest.

Of course there’s lots of amazing stuff happening, of course there is. But the overall impression that we the common people are left with, is of a government so totally focused on pushing its “Hindu” agenda in the run up to next year’s elections, that nothing else really counts.

Not only do we have no mobile connectivity, as in NO mobile connectivity, the walls also seem to bounce sound off in totally random directions.

Sitting just now in my study, which gives onto the drive and the garage at the back of the property, I could’ve sworn that the bells and music and general “tamasha” was coming from right outside my window.

Go into hubby’s study next door, which faces a different direction, over the neighbour’ s back garden, and quite clearly the tamasha was coming from there.